Throughout the New Testament, the words “disciple” and “apostle” are used over 300 times. In most cases, the references are made regarding Jesus and His followers. But what’s the difference between a disciple and an apostle?
What Do the Terms "Apostle" and "Disciple" Mean?
A disciple can be commonly referred to as a student who adheres to a teacher (or a school of thought). In the New Testament, most references to disciples are to Jesus’ students.
A general definition of an apostle is one who is sent with an important message or business. Different political and ethnic groups used apostles as:
- Officers sent to far regions to oversee obedience to the Law (Judaism).
- Admirals, their fleets of ships, and/or those who traveled with and aided them (Greeks in the fourth century B.C.). They used the term, apostolos.
- Emissaries or ambassadors who spoke acted with the authority of the one who sent them (first century A.D. Roman government).
Christ selected that common term (apostle) and magnified it when He called a specific group of men to serve as His Apostles. Apostleship is a unique office held by the few men appointed directly by Christ Himself (Ephesians 2:20). He commissioned them to establish the testimony of the gospel in the church, and their ministry carried His divine authority. Rejecting an Apostle was like rejecting Jesus Himself.
Are All Disciples Apostles?
Every apostle is a disciple, but not every disciple is an apostle. For example, a disciple is a student whom the teacher doesn’t necessarily send out with his teaching. An apostle, by virtue of being sent by the teacher, must be a disciple in order to understand and, with authority, share the teacher’s message.
Since we, as Christians, follow Christ and His teaching, we are His disciples. Apostles (capital A), however, are a unique group of men Christ chose as His closest group of disciples—they were those He chose to spend up close and personal time with during His ministry on earth. They left their homes, traveled with Him, and shared quarters with Him for three years, learning all the while.
Who Were the Original Apostles?
Luke 6:12-16 gives us the time and calling of Jesus’ Apostles. After spending the night in prayer atop a mountain in Galilee (Luke 6:12), the next day Jesus called His disciples and chose twelve to serve as His Apostles. Jesus called the following disciples as Apostles in this order:
1. Simon (Peter)
2. Andrew (Peter’s brother)
3-4. James and John (also brothers)
5. Philip
6. Bartholomew
7. Matthew
8. Thomas
9. James (son of Alphaeus)
10. Simon the Zealot
11. Judas, son of James (not the above-mentioned James)
12. Judas Iscariot (whom the Bible identifies as a future traitor)
Within His apostles was a group of three who were the “inner circle”—John, Peter, and James (John’s brother). Jesus took these three to the Mount of Transfiguration with Him (Matthew 17:2) and they were also present with Him when He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night before His crucifixion (Matthew 26:36-37). It’s likely these three were singled out by Jesus because of their upcoming roles in the establishment and leadership of the early church.
When you read the book of Acts (The Acts of the Apostles), you will notice the central role Peter and John played, providing leadership to the early church in Jerusalem (James was killed by Herod as recorded in Acts 12).
- Peter preached his milestone sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2:14-39).
- Peter and John heal a lame beggar as they entered the temple (Acts 3:1-8).
- Peter and John and are later taken before the Jewish Council (Acts 4:1-22).
- Peter and John boldly went to Samaria (to the Gentiles) and shared the gospel message (Acts 8:14, 25).
All the Apostles furthered the spread of the gospel as they spoke it to the people they encountered and discipled other believers. Acts 6:7 tells us how fruitful their ministries of discipleship and leadership were, “And the word of God kept on spreading, and the number of the disciples continued to multiply greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.” Because of their calling as Apostles (by Christ), these men fulfilled Jesus’ charge to them as recorded in Acts 1:8, “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the end of the earth.” ("The end of the earth" is symbolic for the farthest scope of the then-known world. For us as Christ’s church, it becomes literal as we seek a worldwide outreach of the gospel message.)
How Does the Bible Distinguish between Apostles and Disciples?
The term, “disciple(s)” shows up many times throughout the New Testament, both before and after Jesus chose His twelve. But the word “Apostle(s)” is introduced by Jesus and used specifically for the disciples He called as Apostles. They, with authority given by Christ, laid the foundation of the church with Christ as the Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20). The Apostles were also guaranteed by the Spirit (John 14-17), and appointed by Christ. Many may have qualified, but only a few were appointed. Furthermore, the Apostles’ teaching and testimony was the standard by which all church doctrine was measured (Acts 2:42; Galatians 1-2).
Key Scriptures which highlight the difference include:
Acts 1:1-8 gives us specifics about Apostles:
- The Apostles were given orders by Christ through the Holy Spirit (v. 2).
- Christ presented Himself to them after His resurrection giving them many proofs He had risen and spoke of the kingdom of God (v. 3).
- Christ gathered and commanded them to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the coming Holy Spirit and their charge after He ascended (vv. 4-8).
- The Apostles’ teaching was equated with Scripture: (2 Peter 3:2, 15-16 c.f., John 16:12-15--The Holy Spirit uniquely guided the Apostles into “all truth” so they could fulfill their task of providing the revelation of the New Testament). Disciples aren’t authoritative in what they preach, but their true message is; they are imparting the truths they learn to others. In the time of Jesus and the Apostles, disciples learned directly from them. Christian disciples today have the Bible as their full and final authority.
- The Apostles’ teaching was the standard to which all church doctrine is compared (Acts 2:42 ; Galatians 2:1-10).
Disciples didn’t and don’t write Scripture. They follow, obey, and share it.
What Qualifications Made Someone an Apostle?
The Bible is very clear about the qualifications necessary for a man to be an Apostle of Christ. Acts 1:21-22 tells us an Apostle:
- Had to have been a member of Christ’s group of disciples from the beginning
- Had to have been an eyewitness to Christ’s resurrection
- Had to have been appointed by Christ as an Apostle
Regarding Paul’s position as an Apostle, here’s this from Galatians 1:1, “Paul, an apostle—not sent from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead—” Paul’s situation was unique because he saw the Lord in His resurrected glory and was directly appointed by Him as an Apostle. The Lord called him after His ascension to heaven, yet Paul gained the express and visible approval of the other Apostles.
Further clarification of Paul’s Apostleship is given in 1 Corinthians 9:1-2, “Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.”
Paul joined the other Apostles in the first-century foundational acts of growing the church as directed by Christ. They preached the Word and taught disciples throughout the then-known world, as recorded in Acts through his epistles to the churches. They acted and spoke in the full authority given them by their Master, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Can There Be Apostles Today?
Various movements claim the office of apostle continues in the church today. Movements, organizations, and people who make that claim include the New Apostolic Reformation (N.A.R.), Bethel, Bill Johnson (Bethel Redding’s pastor), and many apostolic churches (hence their nomenclature). Pastor Costi Hinn says their premise began when C. Peter Wagner, a leading figure in the N.A.R. made a claim that “God told him in 2001 the apostolic era was going to begin again and that there would be apostles once more.
The movements that believe the apostolic office exists today claim, among other things:
- Their apostles are the only ones who have authority/access to God for forgiveness, sacraments, and salvation.
- Those who undergo water baptism must receive the Holy Spirit as a gift through an apostle.
Even though concise agreement about Apostleship doesn’t exist within the NAR, the validity of their claims has been scrutinized and rejected by theologians ever since they began teaching and practicing them. The above listing includes only some of the more concerning teachings within this movement, yet we cannot assume everyone who believes in the continuation of the apostolic office holds these views.
Ligonier Ministries says, “It is clear that there can be no apostles today except in the general sense that all believers are "sent" as "apostles." The gathering and sending of the Apostles by Christ was necessary to ensure the writing of the New Testament (except for Mark and Jude, the New Testament was penned by the Apostles, and both men were in close contact with the Apostles). They were also used by Christ to lay the foundations of the church. The same Ligonier article adds, “Foundations once laid do not need to be laid again. Pastors and teachers in the church today do have authority, but they do not have the same degree of authority as the original Apostles.”
Pastor Josh Buice further states, “It was during the age of the early Church that the apostles were gifted with apostolic gifts. According to Acts 5:12, 'Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles.' Many signs and wonders were done at the hands of the apostles (Acts 14:3; 15:12). What was the purpose? It was always for the purpose of validating and authenticating the Messiah, his message, his people, and his apostles. Once his message was completely recorded at the close of the apostolic age, the apostles died, the biblical canon of Scripture was complete, and these gifts ceased.”
What Does It Mean to Be a Disciple of Jesus Today?
Every true and growing Christian is called to discipleship through following Jesus’ teachings and in turn, to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).
The Christian life is a disciple’s life and is to be filled with:
- Prayer
- Bible study and obedience to its teaching
- Gathering with a Bible believing and teaching church to fellowship and worship with other Christians
- Sharing the gospel
- Discipling others
- Being fruitful in good works
- Striving to live a holy life as God sanctifies them
Why Is Understanding The Difference between Apostles and Disciples Important?
The first-century appointment by the Lord Jesus of the Apostles to lay the foundation of the Gospel was unique. They were also to provide the content of the New Testament as a testimony of Christ’s first advent with the promise of His second. The Apostles accomplished the mission Christ entrusted to them, and the canon of the Bible was completed and closed. There is no need for Apostles anymore because they completed the work Christ gave them to do. To make a claim for further Apostolic leadership and signs is to negate the authority of the Scriptures.
As the Lord continues His work in us through sanctification (John 17:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:23). We have all we need to live a holy life (2 Peter 1:3). The Bible tells us this, and we have that firm foundation in Christ and we have a sure hope that He will complete His work in us (Philippians 1:6). Therefore, continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). It’s not easy, but the end is glorious (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Further Reading
"Who Were Jesus' 12 Apostles and What Do We Know about Them?"
A Biblical Guide to the 12 Disciples of Jesus
Who Were the 12 Apostles?
Who Were the 12 Apostles in the Bible?
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